This newsletter is intended to highlight monthly activities at Hoquiam High School. There are many great things that happen during our school days. My hope is that you as parents and the community get to hear about some of these great things.

As our district moves to aligning a more efficient system Hoquiam High School is dedicated to this process. The new Hoquiam Pledge focuses on four main areas.

1. Meaningful Relationships

2. Engaged Learners

3. Adaptive Pathways

4. Community Connections

Each of our goals will relate to one or more of these pathways. They represent the foundation of our beliefs and we look forward to implementing our goal activities through this lens. Hoquiam High School talked about areas to improve and we came up with five categories.

1. Attendance

2. Math

3. Reading and Writing

4. Freshman On Track Rate

5. Work Based Learning Opportunities

In the December Newsletter I will go further in our goals and activities for growth for this school year.

Hoquiam High School started a new course this year called "Grizzly World Forge." Under the guidance of Chris Nitti this class has already done some impressive work. This class creates content and engineers it in virtual space! if you have ever used 3D goggles before you know what I am talking about.

Our students have a one of a kind opportunity to earn certifications in Unity, which is a software that real engineers use to create the metaverse. A volunteer from Microsoft advises the students as they create content. Recently, our students made a sales pitch to a company about an app that they built . The company was very impressed saying "Your presentation is better than some of the professionals that present to us." Our students and Mr. Nitti have also been featured on podcasts about our experience.

This is cutting edge material and an amazing opportunity for our students. As we move on I look forward the growth of the students in this class, as well as, the growth in this program. There is a immense need for people with this skillset in our labor market. If you would like information regarding this program contact Chris Nitti at cnitti@hoquiam.net.

On November 3rd and 4th after school students at Hoquiam High School will have the opportunity to try out for the drama club performance "The Wizard of Oz." Our students will be performing this great play in February. If students are interested they need to contact Patty Sundstrom or Tamara Helland at Hoquiam High School.

Each month the Hoquiam Lions Club honors two Seniors as students of the month. These students are selected by high school staff who look at three areas.

1. Academics

2. Character

3. Service

We would like to congratulate the September Lions Club Winners

Katrina Jones

Kort Gordon

and the October Lions Club Winners

Ashlynn Cady

Todd Mefford

Hoquiam School District is teaming up with Aberdeen to fight hunger on the harbor this Fall. Our students work very hard and understand the importance and the need we have in our local community. Your donation stay local. It goes to our local foodbanks who desperately need our support. Thank you for all you do Hoquiam students and this awesome community! The schedule is as follows.

Hoquiam High School Juniors and Seniors will have the opportunity to knock out one of their graduation requirements this November. Each year we partner with the military to give the ASVAB test to our students. Students achieving a score of 31 or better on the ASVAB will meet one of their graduation requirements. I highly encourage all students to take this assessment whether they plan on going into the military or not.

Hoquiam volleyball has had an amazing Fall. Led by 6 Seniors our Lady Grizzlies tore up the competition. The girls were 15-0 and head to districts as the league champion number one seed from the Evergreen League. Way To Go Girls!!

Congratulations to Timmy Higgins and Jane Roloff each for qualifying for the state cross country event in Pasco. Both athletes won the league title and placed third at districts. They are extremely hard workers, great in the classroom and amazing Grizzly role models. We wish them luck as they work to get new personal records at state! GO GETTEM!

This is a notice that Hoquiam High School will run a Career Fair for Sophomores and Juniors on December 2nd. That same day Freshmen will be headed to Grays Harbor College for a tour and some activities. Seniors will be focusing on their job shadows. We are making preparations for this big event and look forward to working with the community.

Mick Bozich faced horrendous weather conditions to place 4th in the district golf tournament in Tumwater earning him a spot at the state championships in the Spring.

Jake Templer's 4 touchdowns against Centralia earned him the WIAA state athlete of the week. Congratulations Jake!

During the night conferences at HHS our counselor, Tamara Helland, presented a slide show specifically for 9th grade parents. This slide show presentation focused on many areas, but the main areas were:

1. How to support your child

2. Skyward

3. Path to Graduation

4. How to get involved

5. School Resources

Link to presentation

We look forward to working with families to support your child's path to graduation.

Counselor A-K Jennifer Winkelman email jwinkelman@hoquiam.net

Counselor L-Z. Tamara Helland email tamara.helland@hoquiam.net